Ligularia plant named ‘Osiris Fantaisie’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Ligularia dentata,  ‘Osiris Fantaisie’, characterized by its ovate-shaped leaves with margins that are incised, undulated, and often tripartite with conspicuous veining and purple-pink lower surfaces, its short plant height, and its cold hardiness in U.S.D.A. Zones 3.

Botanical classification: Ligularia dentata.

Cultivar designation: ‘Osiris Fantaisie’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Ligularia dentata and is hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Osiris Fantaisie’.

The new cultivar resulted from an ongoing breeding project that commenced in 1994 in St-Thomas de Joliette, Quebec, Canada when the breeder discovered a unique seedling that arose from seed of Ligularia ‘Othello’ (not patented) in 1994. Multiple crosses and re-crosses made with this seedling and its progeny resulted in the selection of ‘Osiris Fantaisie’ in 2002.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was first accomplished under direction of the inventor by in vitro propagation in Rijswijk, The Netherlands in December of 2004. Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by division and tissue culture has shown that the unique features of ‘Osiris Fantaisie’ are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed with represent the characteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combination distinguish ‘Osiris Fantaisie’ as a new and unique cultivar of Ligularia.

-   -   1. ‘Osiris Fantaisie’ has leaves that are ovate in shape with         undulating, incised margins, distinct veining, and a lower leaf         surface that is flushed with red-purple.     -   2. ‘Osiris Fantaisie’ is short is stature with the foliage         reaching a height of 60 cm (90 cm in bloom) in Quebec, Canada.     -   3. ‘Osiris Fantaisie’ has yellow-orange flowers in corymbs that         arise above the foliage in late August to early October in         Quebec, Canada.     -   4. ‘Osiris Fantaisie’ is cold hardy in U.S.D.A. Zone 3.

‘Osiris Fantaisie’ is a unique Ligularia and exhibits leaf characteristics that are unknown in other cultivars of Ligularia known to the inventor.

‘Othello’, a descendent in the breeding line of ‘Osiris Fantaisie’, differs from ‘Osiris Fantaisie’ in having leaves that are more kidney-shaped with margins that are finely serrated and lack undulations, in exhibiting smaller flowers, and is taller in height; reaching up to 1.5 m in height in bloom. ‘Osiris Fantaisie’ can also be compared to Ligularia dentata cultivars ‘Desdemona’ (unpatented) and ‘Brit-Marie Crawford’ (Plant Pat. No. 16,113). Both of these cultivars are similar to ‘Osiris Fantaisie’ in being short in stature and in having leaves that are tinted purple on the lower surface, however the leaves of ‘Desdemona’ and ‘Brit-Marie Crawford’ are kidney-shaped with margins that are less serrated, less undulated, and the upper surfaces of the leaves are brown-purple in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of the ‘Osiris Fantaisie’ as grown in a trial bed in Quebec, Canada.

The photograph in the FIG. 1 was taken of a plant three years in age and the photographs in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 were taken of plants five years in age.

FIG. 1 provides a view of the habit and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar in bloom.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of the foliage and

FIG. 3 provides a close-up view of the flowers. The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with the photographic and printing technology utilized. The color values cited in the detailed botanical description accurately describe the colors of the new Ligularia.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of plants of the new cultivar as grown outdoors in a trial sites in New Hope, Minn. for three years and in Quebec, Canada for five years. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under all possible environmental conditions. The color determination is in accordance with the 2001 R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General Description:     -   -   Blooming habit.—Blooms from late August to early October in             Quebec, Canada.         -   Plant habit.—Clump-forming, robust, herbaceous perennial,             vase-shaped, dwarf in comparison to other cultivars.         -   Height and spread.—Reaches about a height of about 60 cm (90             cm in height in bloom) and about 91 cm in width.         -   Cold hardiness.—U.S.D.A. Zone 3.         -   Culture.—Prefers full sun to dappled shade in moist, fertile             soils.         -   Diseases and pests.—Disease and pest free under the             conditions tested.         -   Root description.—Fibrous.         -   Branching habit.—Basal foliage on long petioles.         -   Propagation.—In vitro propagation is the preferred method,             division are also possible.         -   Growth rate.—Moderate. -   Foliage Description:     -   -   Leaf shape.—Broadly ovate.         -   Leaf division.—Simple.         -   leaf base.—Cuneate.         -   Leaf apex.—Acute.         -   Leaf venation.—Primary palmate, secondary net-veined,             uniquely conspicuous, color on upper surface 144B in distal             regions and 187D in mid region and near base of leaf, color             on lower surface 187B to 187C.         -   Leaf margins.—Incised, often tripartite (oak-like),             undulating.         -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.         -   Leaf arrangement.—Radicalis.         -   Leaf orientation.—Held about a 45° to petiole.         -   Leaf surface.—Glabrous on upper surface and puberulent but             glossy in appearance on lower surface.         -   Leaf color.—Emerging leaves upper and lower surface: 178A to             178C, mature leaves upper surface; 137B to 137C becoming             flushed with N186A, maturing leaves lower surface; 138C             flushed with 178C.         -   Leaf size.—Matures to an average of 9 cm in length and 11 cm             in width.         -   Leaf quantity.—New leaves continuously produced, about 12 by             mid summer on two year-old plant.         -   Petioles.—Oval in shape, orientation ranges from vertical to             a 45° angle, average of 24 cm in length and 4 mm in width,             matures to 187A to 187B in color, surface is glabrous but             sparsely covered with white hairs near leaf blade             attachment. -   Flower Description:     -   -   Type.—Capitulum, heterogamous with ray florets around the             head margin and disk florets in the center, forming a             radiant head, arranged in corymbs.         -   Capitulum number.—3 to 5 per peduncle branch, about 25 per             flowering stem.         -   Lastingness of inflorescence.—3 to 4 weeks until senescence             of ray florets, disk flowers are persistent, a cut flower             will last about 10 days.         -   Capitulum size.—Matures to about 2 cm in depth and 7.3 cm in             diameter, disk size is about 1.5 cm diameter.         -   Fragrance.—Slight rose scent.         -   Phyllaries.—About 16 arranged in a single row to form a             campanulate involucre, about 1 cm in length and 2 mm in             width, fused at base, acute apex, broadly lanceolate in             shape, 138A to flushed with 178B in color, entire margin and             glabrous on upper surface and hairy on inner surface.         -   Buds.—Cup-shaped, average of 1.5 cm in diameter and depth,             phyllary are 138A to flushed with 178B and disk florets             appear 178C in color when viewed in mass just prior to             opening and short upright rays florets 15A with flushed of             34C.         -   Peduncle.—Branched, main peduncle about 45 cm in length and             an average of 4 mm in width with 3 to 5 branches with an             average of 10 cm in length and about 2.5 mm in width, 178A             in color, texture is dull and sparsely covered with white             hairs, one to two leaves, same coloration as basal leaves             with petioles about 7 mm in length and 4 mm in width with             leafy base and 187A to 187B in color.         -   Pedicels.—187A to 187B in color, an average of 5 cm in             length and 2 mm in width, surface is dull and sparsely             covered with fine white hairs.         -   Ray Florets (female).—Average of 11, oblanceolate in shape,             vertical ridges on both surfaces, about 2.5 cm in length and             7 mm in width, emarginated apex, cuneate base, entire margin             except apex, glabrous in texture, initially held upright             about 70° from horizontal and become horizontal to reflexed             as they mature, color of upper and lower surface when             opening; 15A with an overlay of 34C changing to 15A, color             of upper and lower surface when mature; 13C, pappus about 5             mm in length at apex of ovary.         -   Disk flowers (bisexual).—About 40, tubular in shape,             arranged spirally on a conical receptacle, about 1.5 in             length and 2 mm in width, pappus comprised of about 30             bristles about 7 mm in length and 178B in color; color             emerges 15A flushed with 178C in color, mature florets color             is defined by the reproductive organs extending beyond the             apex of the floret, base of floret changing to a blend of             N199C and 178A. -   Reproductive Organs:     -   -   Gynoecium.—Pistil; 1, about 1.1 cm in length and 1.5 mm in             width, style; 0.3 mm in width and 9 mm in length, 1C in             color, surrounded by stamens, stigma; bifid, each arm is             reflexed and about 2 mm in length and 14A in color, Ovary;             inferior, and about 4 mm in length, 1 mm in width, and 145C             in color.         -   Androcoecium.—Stamens; 4, un-fused, coherent in cylinder             around style, anthers; 4 mm in length and 0.3 mm in width,             basifixed, dehisced longitudinally, 200A in color filaments;             5 mm in length, 0.3 mm in width, 145C in color, pollen;             abundant and 22A in color.         -   Fruit.—A terete with pappus, 199A in color. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Ligularia plant named ‘Osiris Fantaisie’ as herein illustrated and described. 